Campus news and events

News Releases

Contact: Jason Marton
jason.marton@tamuk.edu or 361-593-4143

Retiring professor David Deacon honored as "Bringer of Light" by anonymous campus group

KINGSVILLE (November 21, 2005) — Dr. David Deacon, theatre arts professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, is the latest person on the campus to be named a “bringer of light” by the Servants of Las Luminarias.

An anonymous collection of campus community members, the Servants of Las Luminarias select those that they feel are “bringers of the light of the knowledge of goodness to the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus community.”

As an honoree, Deacon received a ceramic “luminaria,” or large ornamental candle holder, and a framed certificate of recognition.

The certificate stated that Deacon has, through word and deed, “selflessly and consistently shone the light of goodness into our midst.”

“I’m flabbergasted, bowled over, hornswoggled,” said Deacon on discovering the award Monday morning in his office.

“I’m deeply honored by it. Sometimes you feel that you labor in anonymity. Receiving this award brings a warmth to my soul that I haven’t felt in quite a while.”

The honor came just a few days after a momentous event in Deacon’s life and career. On Friday, Nov. 18, he turned in his official letter declaring his retirement effective at the end of the spring 2006 semester, concluding 41 years of service as a theatre arts faculty member at A&M-Kingsville.

“I paused when I did it and thought again if it was something I wanted to do. It wasn’t an easy decision. It felt a little like stepping off a cliff. Some say that your job is your identity, and that is very true in my case—I define myself by what I do. But ultimately, I needed to move on, for a number of reasons. It’s really a year-round job with pressures involved. I can still do it, but the recovery time is a lot longer.”

When Deacon leaves his teaching position, he plans to spend time at the State Theatre of Georgia, located at the Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. Deacon had taken a sabbatical there and said he was recharged by the pure theatre experience the 134-year old location offered. The producing artistic director is Paul R. Pierce, the former artistic director of Corpus Christi’s Harbor Playhouse, where he and Deacon had worked together prior.

Deacon holds a B.A. from Earlham College, an M.F.A. from Boston University and a Ph.D. from Ohio University. Prior to his 41 years of teaching at Texas A&M-Kingsville, his first three years teaching were at Earlham College and Indiana Central College.

Reflecting on his years at A&M-Kingsville, Deacon’s motivation for teaching has remained the same.

“I just love the students around here” said Deacon. “They make it all worthwhile.”

This page last updated 28 November, 2005